MINNEAPOLIS – The rain held off and the sun came out for a beautiful night at Target Field, as tens of thousands of fans enjoyed the first Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Minneapolis since 1985.

"This is bucket list thing for me," said Margaret Snyder of Sauk Rapids. "It's great," added her husband John as they walked into the stadium.

From husband and wife, to father and son, this was a night that many wanted to last forever.

"This is once and a lifetime kind of thing," said Seattle Mariners fan Brent Pakkala who brought his 9-year-old son Luke to the game.

All-Star Game ticket(Photo: KARE)

For those who didn't have a ticket, just being close to Target Field was good enough.

"Something like this is great for the city, but also great memories. This is something nice," said Nate Lane, of Minneapolis.

He brought his 2-year-old son Wyatt to get a picture with the Rod Carew statute outside of the stadium. Lane wasn't alone. A lot of fans who did not have tickets came downtown just to be close to the action.

"It's just a great atmosphere down here," said Paul Berg, a Twin Cities resident who met some of his friends at Kieran's Irish Pub. "I think it's great. The whole block party and that."

He, along with throngs of others spent the evening at Kieran's across the street from Target Field.

"This is bigger than an average Tuesday night," said Joe Petzel with Kieran's Irish Pub.

The pub was one of several bars who got an extension from the city to stay open until 4 a.m.

"The opportunity to extend bar closing time by a few hours is an opportunity hopefully we'll be able to take advantage of," he said. "It's an opportunity to really be a part of the international experience that you don't get very often."

Jul 15, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; American League infielder Derek Jeter (2) of the New York Yankees acknowledges the crowd as he comes up to bat in the first inning during the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports Scott Rovak Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 15, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a flyover during the playing of the national anthem before the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports Scott Rovak Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 15, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a flyover during the national anthem before the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports Jerry Lai Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 15, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; National League and American League players line up on the base lines before the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports Jeff Curry Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 15, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; American League infielder Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees waves to the crowd as is introduced before the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports Scott Rovak Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 15, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; American League infielder Derek Jeter (2) of the New York Yankees waves to the crowd as he is replaced in the fourth inning during the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports Scott Rovak Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports